Thieves steal $250,000 from elderly Piedmont couple, police say

PIEDMONT -- An Oakland couple and their daughter face elder abuse and other charges after they allegedly stole more than $250,000 from an elderly Piedmont couple over a two-year period.

Penielli Tutuila, 53, his wife, Favita Tutuila, 49, and their daughter, Sophia Tutuila, 23, were arrested Monday after Oakland and Piedmont investigators served a search warrant and arrest warrants at their residence in the 2700 block of Monterey Boulevard in Oakland.

The Piedmont victims are both age 87 and initially met the Tutuila family after hiring them for construction work on their property, Piedmont police Detective Willie Wright said.

Police began investigating the family four months ago after a representative from an investment company noticed suspicious activity on the Piedmont couple's account, Wright said.

"We are glad that we were able to catch these people, especially when it's an elderly victim and someone has basically tried to clean them out and take what they have worked all their lives for," Wright said.

Penielli Tutuila, his wife and daughter were each booked on suspicion of elder abuse and conspiracy. Each was also arrested on two counts of forgery.

Evidence seized from their residence, where the three were arrested without incident, indicated the possibility of additional unreported victims, police said.

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Piedmont police ask anyone with information on the case to call Detective Bob Coffey or Detective Willie Wright at 510-420-3010.